[RE-wrenches] Utility disco DC?

[Jeff Clearwater]

Hi Drake,

Yes  - one of the utilities we work with is fine with an external DC 
disco when a disco is required (commercial).  It's a good point to 
make as a precedent - no DC = no AC.

We (and the local fire dept.) thinks it actually makes more sense 
than an AC disco.   If the utility is going to require an unnecessary 
device - at least it should benefit the fire dept.

Add that to your no DC = no AC argument to the AHJ.

Best of Luck,

Jeff C.



>Considering its a utility issue and not required by code, it seems 
>it would be up to them. It would definitely work as a disconnect on 
>an batteryless system.
>Our utility here would just see the lockable external disco, and 
>never look any further into the details.
>You could probably just mount an empty box on the wall with a big 
>label "UTILITY DISCONNECT"
>and pull it off the wall after.
>We're making head way here on getting our utility to drop this requirement.
>I took them a copy of that NREL report that stated it actually cost 
>them more money to operate the grid by requiring the disconnects.
>THanks to whoever that was on the list that posted the link.
>
>Ray
>
>
>
>On Sep 2, 2008, at 1:56 PM, Drake Chamberlin wrote:
>
>>Hello Wrenches
>>
>>Can the lockable utility disconnect be DC?  Has anyone tried this? 
>>On an add on system we found this had been done.   It would be 
>>convenient to use this method.  
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Drake
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>>
>>List Address: 
>><mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>>Options & settings:
>><http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org>http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>>List rules & etiquette:
>>www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>>Check out participant bios:
>>www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>
>R. Walters
>Solarray.com
>NABCEP # 04170442
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
>List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
>Options & settings:
>http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
>List rules & etiquette:
>www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
>Check out participant bios:
>www.members.re-wrenches.org


-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Senior Design Engineer
NABCEP (tm) Certified Solar PV Installer
http://www.nabcep.org/
NorthEast Solar Design
Turnkey Solar Design & Installation for the Commercial Sector
http://www.villagepower.com
gosolar at villagepower.com

Voice: 413-259-3776
Fax: 413-825-0703
65 Schoolhouse Rd
Amherst, MA 01002
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20080902/c39babaf/attachment-0004.html>